Below is VASEP's Press Release on the establishment of VASEP CERACO:
PRESS RELEASE
Establishment of “VASEP Sustainability Certification Advisory Council” to support and promote businesses to effectively apply sustainability certifications
Vietnam is the third largest seafood exporter in the world. Seafood export turnover increased from 1.8 billion USD in 2000 to 8.8 billion USD in 2018, and according to Vietnam's seafood development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the export value will reach 14-16 billion USD by 2030. Of which, aquaculture products contribute the majority of over 60-65% and this share will certainly continue to increase in the future.
Vietnam's seafood products (mainly shrimp and pangasius) have been exported to more than 160 markets around the world and are holding a certain position in fastidious markets such as the US, Japan, the EU, and the US. Korea, Australia…
However, with the increase in seafood production and exports, the import markets are also increasingly demanding requirements, standards and certifications to control and promote sustainable aquaculture practices.
In the past time, VASEP Association has conducted a survey and synthesized opinions of member enterprises related to some shortcomings and difficulties in some procedures and criteria when implementing ASC certification standards. The Association is also receiving active coordination from the ASC Organization regarding the recommendations that have been collected and compiled.
Determining this is an important and meaningful activity, today on May 19, 2021, at the webinar "Sustainability certifications: win-win cooperation for effective application" organized by VASEP, the Association has announced the decision to establish the VASEP Sustainability Certifications Advisory Council (VASEP CERACO) with a list of council members, operating regulations and annual action plan of 2021.
VASEP CERACO will perform 4 main functions following:
- Comment on standards and procedures for seafood certification
- Summarize difficulties and problems of member enterprises to exchange, dialogue, and propose to solve with the certificate holder
- Coordinate with parties to support capacity building of member enterprises to implement certifications
- Promote Vietnam’s certified seafood enterprises and their products
VASEP CERACO Council will support VASEP member businesses to apply well and conveniently international sustainability certifications, contributing to improving the value and position of Vietnam's seafood products in the world market, aiming to achieve the goal of seafood export reaching 14-16 billion USD by 2030.
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VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF SEAFOOD EXPORTERS AND PRODUCERS (VASEP)
Address: No 7, Nguyen Quy Canh Road, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430; Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437; Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
Contact: Ms. Tran Thuy Que Phuong
Email: quephuong@vasep.com.vn ; Cellphone: (+84) 903067266
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn